Greek sarcos – fleshy; cheilos – lip; an allusion to the fleshy labellum of these plants.
Epiphytic, epilithic or rarely terrestrial herbs, monopodial. Stems pendent or erect, simple or branched near base, lacking pseudobulbs, roots creeping and aerial. Leaves in 2 ranks, linear to lanceolate, often curved, sheathing at base. Inflorescences axillary racemes, erect to pendent. Flowers resupinate, few to many, often fragrant, white, pink, greenish or brownish, often blotched. Sepals and petals similar, free, broad or narrow, spreading. Labellum 3-lobed, fleshy, side lobes surrounding column, midlobe often forming a solid chin-like spur. Column short, with a foot. Pollinia 4, waxy.
About 17 species from Australia and New Caledonia.
Labellum with a chin-like spur.
Upton (1992).
Source: (2005). Orchidaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.